-
[QUOTE=Yanqui69; 1559702]Aside from the occasional bottle of "Mamajuana" herbs, the DR is known for its amber.
It is mined in the mountains north of Santiago.
Anything you find in a tourist area will be wildly overpriced. You also need to be aware of possible fake amber.
If interested, do some homework and try to find a reputable source to buy.
Barcelo and Brugal rum are good, and there are always cigars. Santo Domingo coffee is local, and I like it.
Except for the rum, available in any supermarket, everything in a tourist area is OVERPRICED.[/QUOTE]Agree with that. All the vulgar stuff with the name or flag of the country is made in China. My first trip I wanted to buy my boss' wife a present to use up my pesos. (Didn't know then I would be coming back seven more times, even less that I would be emigrating here). All I could find that was tastefully presented was a bottle of vanilla essence. Found out later even that was imported.
Amber is risky as it is easy to replicate in plastic. There is a scratch test you can do if they will let you. And better amber can be bought in other countries, especially in the Baltic Republics.
The only thing that is uniquely Dominican is larimar, a pale blue semi-precious stone, but I don't find it very interesting. I have never heard of that being faked.
-
[QUOTE=Oakie;1559720]I'm obviously not intellectual enough to appreciate the raw local folk art sold on the beach.[/QUOTE]That is all Haitian, and crap. A previous girlfriend's uncle had a workshop with six haitian guys churning them out in a "paint by numbers" system, one doing the red bits then passing it along for the next guy to do the blue bits, etc. Large paintings that sell for 900 pesos cost him 300 to produce. That includes paints, labor, transport and all other overheads.
Haiti does have a great tradition for art (especially painting, metalwork and fabrics). The DR has none. Which is why, despite the widespread prejudice against, and often hatred for, all things Haitian, you will see Haitian (or mock Haitian) artifacts in wealthy Dominican homes and in public buildings.
For eight years I have been trying to source a good Haitian artist working in the Puerto Plata area, but all promised contacts have led me to the mass-producers of crap.
-
Schwab Account
Wrx, Have you tried the Schwab debit card yet? If yes how did it work in the DR?
-
[QUOTE=Oakie;1559633]A friend who's a frequent traveler asked me what I usually brought back from the D. R. on my many trips. When I looked around my place, there was nothing, nada! Is there anything useful or decorative I could bring back, besides happy memories?[/QUOTE]Whenever I go somewhere new the first things I do is mail myself a post card and find a refrigerator magnet. I collect dominoes, so I have a set from DR. And like Yanqui said I have a bottle of mamajuana wood sitting on my bar. I never planned on mixing it, but just for more of a souvenir. You are out of luck on the gold; Chris Colombus sent that shit back to Spain.
-
[QUOTE=Oakie;1559720]Thanks, and for reminding me I do have a small bottle of "Caribbean Spice" mamajuana mix (just add rum).[/QUOTE]There is a kind of bread (hard and crunchy) called Casabe (made out of Cassava roots and also available in the organic form) which I like and buy in the DR but then I am into food so it may not be for everyone. I discovered it when a woman I know told me about her husband's casabera (or the bread making factory). There are a whole bunch of them in San Jose de Las Matas. I have at times also brought back "Dulce de Leche". Both things available at the Department stores.
-
[QUOTE=Houston Player;1559808]Wrx, Have you tried the Schwab debit card yet? If yes how did it work in the DR?[/QUOTE]I used mine twice in Sosua and did not have any fees on the Schwab side.
-
[QUOTE=Houston Player;1559808]Wrx, Have you tried the Schwab debit card yet? If yes how did it work in the DR?[/QUOTE]No I haven't yet. But when I do, based on all of the prior feedback from Schwab account holders, I'm confident everything will work just like everybody said. I'm just glad I received the card in the mail just in time for this trip.
-
[QUOTE=Charles Pooter; 1559788]That is all Haitian, and crap. A previous girlfriend's uncle had a workshop with six haitian guys churning them out in a "paint by numbers" system, one doing the red bits then passing it along for the next guy to do the blue bits, etc. Large paintings that sell for 900 pesos cost him 300 to produce. That includes paints, labor, transport and all other overheads.
Haiti does have a great tradition for art (especially painting, metalwork and fabrics). The DR has none. Which is why, despite the widespread prejudice against, and often hatred for, all things Haitian, you will see Haitian (or mock Haitian) artifacts in wealthy Dominican homes and in public buildings.
For eight years I have been trying to source a good Haitian artist working in the Puerto Plata area, but all promised contacts have led me to the mass-producers of crap.[/QUOTE]It's a shame really because the art sold down there resembles nothing that would remind me of The D. R., sitting on my wall here in the dead of our Canadian winter.
I often thought that a decent painter could make a living off tourists painting street scenes and beach scenes that capture the essence of the place, day and night.
Now if I were retired...)
-
[QUOTE=Mr Enternational;1559816]Whenever I go somewhere new the first things I do is mail myself a post card and find a refrigerator magnet. I collect dominoes, so I have a set from DR. And like Yanqui said I have a bottle of mamajuana wood sitting on my bar. I never planned on mixing it, but just for more of a souvenir. You are out of luck on the gold; Chris Colombus sent that shit back to Spain.[/QUOTE]On the small bottle I have, it says "just add rum", but how much rum should I add (to keep it authentic)?
-
[QUOTE=Tempoecorto;1559842]There is a kind of bread (hard and crunchy) called Casabe (made out of Cassava roots and also available in the organic form) which I like and buy in the DR but then I am into food so it may not be for everyone. I discovered it when a woman I know told me about her husband's casabera (or the bread making factory). There are a whole bunch of them in San Jose de Las Matas. I have at times also brought back "Dulce de Leche". Both things available at the Department stores.[/QUOTE]Douche de Leche?
The only thing I always bring back is a touch of the local gripe. Exchange of bodily fluids and all that.
I did try to bring a retired puta back, but as you know it didn't turn out too well. LOL
-
[QUOTE=Oakie;1559941]On the small bottle I have, it says "just add rum", but how much rum should I add (to keep it authentic)?[/QUOTE]No idea. I've only even tried it once. The guy I bought it from at the beginning of the beach told me to add whatever rum and whatever red wine I like and let it sit for I forgot how long. [url]http://everydaydrinkers.com/2013/07/how-to-make-mamajuana/[/url]
-
[QUOTE=Oakie; 1559942]Douche de Leche?
The only thing I always bring back is a touch of the local gripe. Exchange of bodily fluids and all that.
I did try to bring a retired puta back, but as you know it didn't turn out too well. LOL[/QUOTE]Haha. I guess that is the only relevant leche here. I on the other hand was referring to the cow kind. It is a sweet. I think they add sugar and dry the milk to a solid state and may add other flavors like coconut. Not bad if you are into milk based sweets. The gumshoes at the border would not allow any other stuff like ripe mangoes which would be of interest to me compared to what you called the Dominican Art!
-
[QUOTE=Oakie; 1559633]A friend who's a frequent traveler asked me what I usually brought back from the D. R. On my many trips.
When I looked around my place, there was nothing, nada!
I have a lot of stuff from Mexico, a gold coin ring, some clay pots, an onyx mask and a chessboard, hand painted wall plates. I always brought back stuff from there.
My novia buys me shoes (yes shoes) , shirts and coffee and stuff, but except for the coffee nothing seems to be made there. (and I may be wrong about the coffee)
Is there anything useful or decorative I could bring back, besides happy memories?[/QUOTE]You can make custom jewelry (silver, pink concha, larimar at Patrick's Silversmith in SOSua or in Pto Pta, blue amber in Santo Domingo) , buy Haitian art from Castillo Mundo King in SOSua (the owner will ship heavy artifacts) , carnival masks in Santiago; paintings after some research in Santo Domingo, always good rum (Atlantico) , cigars (Fuentes) , etc.
-
[QUOTE=Questner;1559999]You can make custom jewelry (silver, pink concha, larimar at Patrick's Silversmith in SOSua or in Pto Pta, blue amber in Santo Domingo) , buy Haitian art from Castillo Mundo King in SOSua (the owner will ship heavy artifacts) , carnival masks in Santiago; paintings after some research in Santo Domingo, always good rum (Atlantico) , cigars (Fuentes) , etc.[/QUOTE]Thanks, I'll have to broaden my shopping experience from Playera in Sosua, and Jimanez and La Serena in PP. I'm always being dragged there by my local novia. LOL.
But I do love the way she organizes the trip seamlessly. 150 pesos to get there. Then a walk out of La Serena parking lot past the taxis, where she flags down a motoconcho and sends him for the publico. Two minutes later it shows and brings us back to Sosua for the same price.
-
[QUOTE=Oakie;1560107]Then a walk out of La Serena parking lot past the taxis, where she flags down a motoconcho and sends him for the publico. Two minutes later it shows and brings us back to Sosua for the same price.[/QUOTE]Do you mean La Sirena?